The New Seeds of Urban Farming For Black Communities
Originally published 6/26/19 + Denise Powell | Health
In an era of less people working in agriculture in the United States and more cities filled with bustling people and infrastructure, fresh produce grown directly from the earth is not always easy to come by. The current President of the United States has intensified the conversation around farming by toughening trade policies and leaving negotiations lingering for an answer. This has, in turn, devalued certain produce and the national net farm income. Farmers are becoming less common along with fewer farms in the country, but there are new ways of filling this niche. When there is an open plot in large cities, what is done with these areas can be crucial to cultivating communities around health and wellness. Urban farming is one method of doing this, and cities like Washington, D.C., San Francisco, and Detroit have jumped on the opportunity. Within these regions of the country, there is a growing network of Black urban farmers, both in urban cities and on social media.
What is urban farming? The name gives its core mission away: the process of growing food in urban cities. As cities rapidly grow with its increasing populations, so does the demand for food supplies. Urban farming does more than provide locally grown produce in booming cities. It also gives opportunity through employment, environmental awareness, and education. Nelson ZePequeno, the moderator of @blackmenwithgardens has been a cannabis farmer for almost a decade and recently decided that he should switch up his palette after visiting a local nursery.
ZePequeno isn’t alone in his newfound passion for his growing interest in wellness through gardening. The Urban Farming Mission hosts workshops and classes on healthy eating and living. Programs like this focus on environmental determinants of health that can be changed with urban farming, like mental health, food deserts, and poverty. The organization even hosts instructors of yoga and dance, nutritionists, and fitness trainers to teach classes around the gardens.
The relationship between urban gardening varies depending on the person. ZePequeno says, “Urban gardening to me is a form of meditation and art. Ritually taking care of plants helps keep me centered and at peace. Floral design is also one of my main creative outlets.” By tying wellness in a space that cultivates literal growth, these urban gardening communities are also tackling health concerns that disproportionately impact communities of color. Already-existing urban gardening communities are template for resourcefully using land and space to tackle and reduce the risk of conditions, like obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular, or heart, disease. They can even be a form of expression and therapy.
When asked about the relationship between urban gardening and the black and brown community, ZePequeno replied, “The relationship? I’d say mirrors that of parent and child. We were birthed from nature, nourished and molded by it. It seems that in today’s day and age, we’re further removed from nature than at any time before, but this new wave of urban gardeners remind me of children separated from their parents but finally returning, and there’s so much we’re ready to learn.” From a public health perspective, there is indeed a lot to learn. In a world where concrete jungles exist, the impact we all have on our surroundings is more important than ever. Additionally, what we put into our communities impacts our brothers and sisters of color.
While there have been improvements towards decreasing poverty and income inequality, it is a persistent issue within the United States. The produce and applicable lessons learned through urban farming serve a special purpose in brown and black communities without easily accessible fresh produce. Food security is a nationwide issue that we have a duty to address and spotlight based on research from Melanin Meetups. The lack of access to nutritional foods in low-income communities is compounded by rising prices.
A 2009 United States Department of Agriculture report showed approximately 23.5 million Americans were residents of low-income areas more than a mile from a supermarket. When minority communities do have access to grocery stores, the produce sold there is more expensive with less variation in what is offered, according to the Racial Justice Project. While the food from urban gardens may not be enough to feed an entire city, it can certainly empower those within the community to have a hub where they can learn and implement those lessons from urban gardening. The benefits of urban farming include more affordable options than expensive supermarkets, job opportunities, and a common goal for a community to work towards. This communal activity is easily accessible by your typical, aspiring gardeners, from nonprofit organizations to curious millenneals who would like to make a difference by literally growing resources from the ground.
ZePequeno shares his own experience with self-realization. “The main benefit [of urban gardening] would be helping nature reclaim its place in our concrete lives. The other day, I saw some city workers literally nailing fake grass to a sidewalk and thought about how upside down our society can be sometimes.” While it’s an ambitious task that could truly impact a community or one’s own life, there are limitations to keep in mind. Urban farming tends to take place in more populated areas where zoning can dictate the practice of farming. For instance, there are potential restrictions on what is allowed, like whether animals, like livestock, can be a part of the process. Additionally, the produce from an urban garden may not be able to sustain the entire neighborhood.
“Most people living in big cities lead very busy lives. You need five jobs just to pay rent in L.A., and I know so many people that want a nice home garden but just don’t have the time/space/sunlight to do it,” explains ZePequeno. If the results of an urban garden cannot sustain an entire community, what are the goals? Changing the mindset of a community through food appreciation is a start. Instead of going to a fried food chain, organic vegetables and fruits or baked meats may be the first instinct instead. Cooking with produce grown in an urban garden is simplified by knowing what plants are potential staples for cooking. Minimizing effort is key. For instance, tomatoes tend to thrive in a wide variety of climates but do require conditions like sun, moist soil, and stakes to support their vines. They can then be used for many dishes, from salads and sandwiches to sauces.
Some advice ZePequeno would love people with no experience with urban gardening to have is to “Buy some seeds and start experimenting! Take time to learn. Your plants will literally thank you! They have an intricate system of signs and they are constantly telling you when they need water, when they’ve had to much, when they need light, what nutrients are deficient, ect. All you have to do is listen and be patient. If it dies, compost and start the cycle over again!”
Most importantly, urban gardening is an outlet that leads to education and growth, especially for rising youth of color. By bonding over a common goal, there is a sense of preserving culture through the attempt to eliminate health disparities. Not able to start or be a part of an entire urban garden? Owning plants within your own living space can have its own health benefits, like absorbing chemicals from your surrounding air and increasing air humidity if your home is a little on the dry side.
If you are interested in community gardening, here are some tips:
Join a group with the same goals
Form a leadership team of like-minded future farmers
Set rules for those who will be involved in your garden
Be familiar with terminology, like composting and green roofs
Find supplies you will need, such as soil and mulch
Clean up potential sites after designing your envisioned garden
Celebrate organizations of color!
Raise money for your urban garden or donate to local ones already existing
Consider insurance from the American Community Gardening Association
With all of that being said, ZePequeno shares some wise words to all of us here at Melanin Meetups, “Take your shoes off, and walk through the grass more often.”
Instagram: @blackmenwithgardens
